The Ministry of Education mandates that students must complete 40 hours of community service to receive their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. Christian community service provides an opportunity for students to grow in their faith life and develop an understanding of our role as followers of Christ.
Completing community service hours
Students can start earning their hours from July 1 (after they finish Grade 8) until the end of Grade 12. These hours are completed outside of class instruction - during the evening, weekends or school/summer holidays. We encourage students to complete 10 hours of service per year, and to complete their hours by the spring of Grade 12.
Benefits of community service
Students benefit from completing the hours by:
- developing moral and ethical responsibility to our community;
- understanding and accepting social and civic responsibility;
- accessing opportunities for intellectual development;
- developing peer leadership and mentoring skills;
- gaining a better understanding of multicultural and equity issues;
- building confidence in social situations; and
- gaining work experience and career awareness.
Types of activities acceptable for community service hours
Below are some examples of the types of activities approved for community service.
- Provide service to seniors or others who have difficulty leaving their homes - raking, shoveling (no snow blowers), shopping;
- Tutor younger students - read, visit the library, help with homework;
- Volunteer at a senior's home/centre;
- Help organize local community events - food drives/banks;
- Take part in environmental initiatives - cleaning and recycling operations, park clean-up, planting trees and flowerbeds;
- Become involved with charitable or church activities;
- Assist with sports teams: community leagues, house league teams parks and recreation programs;
- Volunteer in leadership roles with community groups-youth group, leader at church;
- Volunteer at hospitals, libraries, social service or animal welfare agencies, religious communities/places of worship; and/or
- Assist with literacy initiatives-at local libraries, daycare centres, community centres.
Activities considered ineligible for community involvement hours
According to the Ministry of Education, an activity is ineligible for community involvement hours if it is:
- Required as part of a school course;
- Taking place as part of the instructional day;
- An activity that replaces a paid worker;
- An activity where you would usually be paid (e.g. babysitting);
- A duty performed in a home (e.g. daily chores) or personal recreational activities;
- Requiring the knowledge of a provincially regulated tradesperson;
- Playing in a sports team;
- A Court ordered program involving a community service expectation;
- Involving operating a vehicle, power tools or scaffolding;
- Administering medication or handling substances as classified by the Occupational Health and Safety Act;
- Involving banking, securities or other valuables;
- If under 16, a logging environment;
- If under 15, a factory environment;
- If under 14, any workplace besides health and residential care, unless accompanied by an adult.
If you would like to volunteer in an activity, but are unsure if it corresponds with eligible activities, please speak to your school's Principal.
Resources
Check out the following resources to help you find Community Involvement opportunities.
- Volunteer Durham website for Community Service opportunities;
Contact us
For questions regarding Community Involvement hours, visit Community Service guidelines.